Now that their bye week is in the books, the Dallas Cowboys will return to action against a familiar foe.
The Cowboys will travel to San Francisco this weekend to take on the 49ers in a primetime matchup on Sunday night. Like Dallas, the Niners have struggled through some of the season’s early portion due to various key injuries.
Here are five things to know about the 49ers, the Cowboys’ Week 8 opponent:
Injured stars
San Francisco will be a bit banged up entering its latest showdown with the Cowboys. Many football fans are aware of the absence of Christian McCaffrey.
The star running back has missed the season’s first seven games with an Achilles tendon issue and has gone through many avenues in search of a solution. He reportedly went to Germany at some point to get another expert opinion.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday that he would be “surprised” if McCaffrey made his season debut against Dallas. The coach added that McCaffrey would have a better chance to return after the team’s Week 9 bye.
McCaffrey isn’t the only injured 49er. According to The Associated Press, wide receiver Deebo Samuel was released from a hospital Tuesday after being treated for pneumonia. He went to the hospital after San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he only played four snaps.
Doctors determined Samuel had fluid in his lungs.
The Niners will also be without receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who tore his right ACL and MCL on Sunday. No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings is also a name to watch as he is battling through a hip injury.
Still dangerous on the ground
The Cowboys have issues stopping the run. That’s been particularly true against Shanahan’s 49ers in recent years.
Jordan Mason will be a player to monitor this weekend as he continues to fill in for McCaffrey in San Francisco’s backfield. Mason is currently the league’s second-leading rusher, posting 667 yards and three touchdowns on 128 carries.
To find success, Dallas will have to target the Niners’ rushing attack early. Teams with strong run games have succeeded against Dallas this year, especially when they set a physical tone in the first quarter.
Dallas has already seen a Shanahan-tree offense this year, facing the New Orleans Saints with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in Week 2. Alvin Kamara and the Saints posted 190 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
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An emotional comeback
While the Niners could be without some of their top receivers, they will have a rookie to take over some of those snaps. First-round pick Ricky Pearsall made his NFL debut against Kansas City, catching three passes for 21 yards.
Pearsall took the field just 50 days after being shot in the chest. The rookie was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in September in San Francisco’s Union Square area and was hospitalized overnight. He avoided damage to any organs and nerves and was back working out at the team facility the following week.
Defense still flies after the ball
In terms of total yards allowed, San Francisco’s defense doesn’t look like the unit it was a year ago. The Niners currently rank 18th in the league, allowing 2,226 yards with an average of 5.3 yards per play. That doesn’t mean they’re unable to take the football away.
San Francisco ranks in the top five in takeaways with 13. The team’s pass defense plays a major part in that standing, posting eight interceptions through seven games. The Niners came down with two picks against Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes last week.
Dominance against Dallas
Week 8 will be an important one for the Cowboys for multiple reasons. They can build some positive momentum and get back above .500 with a win. They can also end a three-game losing streak against the Niners.
San Francisco has dominated the series in recent years, winning all three matchups between the teams since 2022. The Niners eliminated the Cowboys from the postseason twice, then shut Dallas down with a 42-10 victory in Week 5 of the 2023 season.
Can Dallas finally turn the tables this year?